Secretary of State demands inquiry into Rotherham foster care controversy

The Secretary of State for Education has asked for an inquiry into a UKIP foster parents' children being removed from their care. A report by Rotherham Council was published today.

"The Secretary of State for Education has asked for an inquiry relating to this case over the weekend. The Council welcomes this. We will work very closely with and give full cooperation to the Department. The Chief Executive has this morning invited the senior officials making the enquiries to meet with him and other council officers in Rotherham as soon as possible, so that this information can be rapidly reported to the Secretary of State.

"This morning I received a report of the immediate investigation that was ordered early on Saturday by the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services. Having now listened to the initial report I am able to set out the way forward."Membership of UKIP should not bar someone from fostering.

"The Council places the highest priority on safeguarding children, and our overriding concern in all decisions about the children in our care, is for their best interests.

"We have been able to establish the facts in this case as far as is possible over the weekend, and I can confirm that the children are safe and in very good care."However, this remains a very complex case involving legal advice relating to the decision in question, particular features of the children’s background and an external agency responsible for finding and providing the foster carers concerned.

"In order to help the investigation further, we will also make all the facts established so far available to the Secretary of State’s officials."